Jeff’s Journal
By Jeff Whitaker
Don’t let the hiccup stall your progress. If you’re like me, I’m sure you’ve been there. You set out to do something and then life happens. It’s like heading down the highway doing 65 when all of a sudden there is a detour out of no where. You find yourself directed out of your way and a trip you thought would take 25 minutes turns into an hour. But it’s one thing when the “hiccup” is out of your control and another when it’s your lack of discipline or neglect. If you’re like me when something like this happens, you have one of three thoughts. The first is to beat yourself up over it. The second is to say, ”You know what, I’m really busy maybe it’s not meant to be or some other excuse. The third thought is this. Ok so I got off track. I need to get up, dust myself off and get back on the horse.
I’m sharing this with you because we all have those moments in our personal lives and businesses where we get off course. It may be for a moment, it could be for longer. But the reality is, it’s going to happen. But don’t let your setbacks derail you from your big picture plans. Whatever it is that has taken you off course, make the necessary adjustments and get back on track. Or if you are on course right now and this doesn’t resinate with you, tuck this thought away for a rainy day.
Thomas Edison who is credited with hundreds of inventions is generally credited with inventing the incandescent light bulb. But actually he was not the inventor, he only perfected an earlier version of the light bulb. When others saw a hiccup, Edison kept at it trying and failing, experimenting and failing until he got it.
The point is, whatever it is that derails you, learn from it and get back up and back on course. It is persistence that pays the dividends in the long run. It was President Calvin Coolidge who famously said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
So, whatever your “hiccup”, course correct, get back up and persist. You won’t regret it.
Jeff Whitaker is a veteran broadcaster here in South Jersey. He now draws on his experience and training to work with companies and individuals to develop effective storytelling, communications and leadership skills. Find free resources and ways Jeff can work with you at jeffwhitaker.com
